Mayor Tim Keller and CNM Partner for Film Production Center Excellence at the Rail Yards

Mayor Tim Keller and CNM Partner for Film Production Center Excellence at the Rail YardsPartnership builds upon redevelopment at the Rail Yards to create career paths into film industry.https://www.cabq.gov/mayor/news/mayor-tim-keller-and-cnm-partner-for-film-production-center-excellence-at-the-rail-yardshttps://www.cabq.gov/@@site-logo/seal-small.png

Mayor Tim Keller and CNM Partner for Film Production Center Excellence at the Rail Yards

Partnership builds upon redevelopment at the Rail Yards to create career paths into film industry.

January 11, 2019

Mayor Tim Keller continues to expand economic development and redevelopment of the Rail Yards by announcing the intent to bring the Central New Mexico Community College’s Film Production Center of Excellence to the historic location. This partnership will enhance city economic development on several fronts. Following the 2018 Netflix announcement we now have a spectacular onsite training location for the workforce they will need. This also represents the first tenant in the 20 year history of efforts to redevelop the railyards.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed today by Mayor Tim Keller and CNM President Katharine Winograd outlines the dedication both parties share to increasing opportunities for folks in Albuquerque.

“By teaming up with CNM to potentially locate the new film school at the Rail Yards, we are opening the door to bring access to training and good paying jobs right into the heart of our city,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “This partnership is a reflection of our city’s natural strengths like our growing film industry and special places like the Rail Yards that have so much potential.”

“CNM is committed to providing our community members with the training opportunities they need to secure quality employment in our community and state,” said CNM President Katharine Winograd. “And we’re thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership with the City of Albuquerque and our commitment to help revitalize downtown by exploring the possibility of opening a CNM Film Production Center of Excellence at the historic Rail Yards location. CNM has been producing skilled film technicians to support our film industry for 15 years, and now we need to expand our capacity to meet the growing demand for these skilled professionals.”

The current Rail Yard’s master plan is to create a vibrant live-work-play hub, while maintaining the cultural and historical significance of the site. The project will provide an educational ladder to those in the community who wish to pursue a career in the multi-million dollar film industry. With the addition of CNM as a potential anchor tenant, we can expect interest from other related businesses to increase, therefore boosting economic development in the city.